Troy was born on 30th May 1964 in Workington in Cumbria. His father and mother were members of a band called Travelling Country. At the age of 16 Troy joined them, playing at many venues in West Cumbria. His father's record collection was broad and gave Troy a love of classical as well as traditional music. He is one of the few Englishmen who are master of the uillean pipes. Additionally he plays guitar, flute, bouzouki, low whistle and keyboards. His ambition was to travel the world as a musician, but hated "empty pop created by cynical twerps". The strangeness of the sound of the uilleann pipes enabled him to become a session musician with prog-rockers The Enid in 1987 on their album The Sower and the Seed.